Levodopa is converted to a chemical called dopamine (DOE pa meen) in the brain. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease may be caused by low levels of dopamine in the brain. Carbidopa helps prevent the breakdown of levodopa before it can reach the brain and take effect. Entacapone increases levels of levodopa in the body.

The combination of carbidopa, entacapone, and levodopa is used to treat Parkinson symptoms such as muscle stiffness, tremors, spasms, and poor muscle control.

Carbidopa, entacapone, and levodopa may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Stalevo 100

oval, brown, imprinted with LCE 100

Stalevo 150

oval, brown, imprinted with LCE 150

Stalevo 50

round, brown, imprinted with LCE 50

What are the possible side effects of carbidopa, entacapone, and levodopa?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

nausea, sweating, feeling like you might pass out (especially when you first start taking this medication);

You may notice that your sweat, urine, or saliva appears dark in color, such as red, brown, or black. This is not a harmful side effect, but it may cause staining of your clothes or bed sheets.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about carbidopa, entacapone, and levodopa?

You should not use this medication if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to carbidopa (Lodosyn), entacapone (Comtan), or levodopa (Larodopa), or if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, unusual skin lesions, or a history of skin cancer.

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, especially heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma or other breathing problems, liver or kidney disease, a hormonal disease, an ulcer, glaucoma, or mental illness. Also tell your doctor about all the medications you use.

It may take up to several weeks of using carbidopa, entacapone, and levodopa before your symptoms improve. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if the effects of this medication seem to wear off quickly in between doses.

Do not stop using carbidopa, entacapone, and levodopa without first talking to your doctor.